IMPORT OF PROFESSIONAL EGUIPMENT BY FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS

Important information for correspondents visiting Russia and importing their equipment.

Governmental Order of the Russian Federation No. 1084 dated 02.11.1995 "On the Joining of Russian Federation to Customs Convention on ATA Carnet for Temporary Importation of Goods dated December 6, 1961 and Convention on Temporary Admission of June 26, 1990 with acceptance of some Annexes" declared the fact that the Russian federation joined Customs Convention on ATA Carnet for Temporary Importation of Goods dated December 6, 1961 and Convention on Temporary Admission of June 26, 1990 (hereinafter referred to as the Conventions).

The objective of the Conventions is to facilitate application of customs procedures of temporary importation of goods with full conditional release from payment of customs duties and taxes. For this purpose the Conventions determined the format of АТА Cornet which is being regarded as an international customs document in connection with the temporary importation of goods, a sort of customs declaration for the purposes of customs clearance of goods intended to be put under customs regime of temporary importation, allowing to properly identify the goods and to be used as an international guarantee of paying customs duties and taxes.

Application of the Conventions harmonizes and simplifies customs formalities.

The requirements applicable by the Russian customs authorities to customs clearance procedures of goods using АТА Carnet are formalized in Order issued by the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 01-99/152 dated 01-99/152 "On the Customs Clearance of Goods Based on АТА Carnet" drafted on the basis of the Conventions' provisions.

With the temporary importation the customs charges for the clearance of temporary imported goods based on the ATA Carnet shall not be imposed given the terms and conditions of the temporary importation of goods based on ARA Carnet procedure are met in full.
The list of customs authorities qualified to perform customs operations with the goods transported under the АТА Carnet procedure was approved by Order of the Federal Customs Service of Russia No. 558 dated 20.06.2005 (registered in the Ministry of Justice of Russia on 14.07.2005 registration number 6792)

In this way in order that the foreign correspondents may easily import their professional equipment into the customs territory of the Russian Federation, they must have ATA Carnet for all items of professional equipment intended for importation, issued by the appropriate association of the State where they carry out their professional duties.

ATA Carnet is recognized by customs authorities of the Russian Federation as the customs declaration and an internationally valid guarantee of payment of customs charges provided that the document contains the names of the issuing association and the international guaranteeing network is specified, and the document shall be completed by the issuing association and the Carnet holder as required, and properly formalized by customs authority of the State of Exportation.

On the front page of the ATA Carnet the issuing associations of Conventions' member-states shall specify the following data: The Russian Federation and the name of guaranteeing (sponsoring) association: the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia.
The АТА Carnet shall be provided to Customs Authorities of the Russian Federation when professional equipment is brought by foreign correspondents on the customs territory of the Russian Federation and when it is exported back.

In cases where the persons concerned have no АТА Carnet in their possession the customs clearance of the professional equipment can be accomplished according to national procedure.